Best Awards 2013 – putting British marketing on the podium

The Olympics has shown us that nothing focuses attention as much as winning, which is why the Best Awards 2013 are the perfect opportunity for British marketing agencies to showcase their most innovative, inventive and successful campaigns

The Best Awards were founded on the basis that they would recognise the work and the agencies that characterise the industry of tomorrow

There is no shortage of awards for the marketing and communications industry, so it's little wonder that this proliferation can leave agencies wondering which ones will really mark them out and add value to them as a business.

Without doubt winning awards is a brilliant boost for morale. Just like Team GB at this year's Olympics, anyone bringing a medal home will take immense pride in their achievements. And just as Team GB's success has put the spotlight on London and the UK, an awards haul can truly raise the profile of an agency and a brand.

As Britain bathes in the afterglow of its best performance at an Olympic Games in more than 100 years, the country could be forgiven for letting the success inflate its collective self-esteem.

It's this idea of a slightly inflated ego – deservedly so of course! – that has given us our fun and tongue-in-cheek creative theme for this year's Best Awards. Our campaign, developed by Wunderman, shows some of the consequences to having a "big head" from winning a Best Award.

The Best Awards were founded on the basis that they would recognise the work and the agencies that characterise the industry of tomorrow. That is as true today as it was when the Marketing Agencies Association launched the awards 22 years ago. They are open to any agency, regardless of size and stature, which is producing work that is getting real results with consumers.

Our industry is very competitive and always under pressure to demonstrate its ability to deliver a return on investment. We are living in an era in British marketing where creating value for consumers and clients through imaginative work has never been more vital.

Agencies are striving to help their clients be seen, be sought and be talked about. This is why the Best Awards are so important.

The Best Awards are a celebration of the weird, the wonderful, the most innovative, the most effective and, above all, "the best".

As we announce the call for entries and begin the countdown to the awards ceremony, this site will provide us with an opportunity to hear from past winners as well as get behind the scenes of an industry that is defined by innovation and invention.

Scott Knox is the managing director of the Marketing Agencies Association

On this site

The champagne bottles are well and truly empty and the Best Awards have been handed out for another year. Take a look at some of the most inspiring work from Britain's best creative agencies in this 2013 winners roundup

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